Albany High Student in Critical Condition

Erin Tobin believes there needs to be a crosswalk entering Ridgefield Park

by Sam Maxwell

An Albany High School student remained in critical condition Wednesday after she was struck by a car Saturday nigh at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Ontario Street.

“Police believe the victim was in a crosswalk,” said Ptl Steven Smith, public information officer for the Albany Police Department. The driver of the car stopped and police are continuing their investigation. No charges have been filed. Smith said there are cameras at that intersection.

In the past 24 months, there have been 12 accidents involving pedestrians in the Pine Hills neighborhood, according Smith.

Out of the 12 accidents, there were 10 injuries. This latest accident bring the number up to 11. Dating back to January of 2007, there have been 37 reported accidents involving pedestrians, with 36 injuries as a result.

At least one mother in the neighborhood is concerned about the safety of her small children.

“There could be more crosswalks in Pine Hills,” said Erin Tobin, who is also a member of the Pine Hills neighborhood association.

Tobin has three children, and would worry less about their safety if more crosswalks were installed.

“I would feel much more comfortable letting my older children walk the three blocks to Ridgefield Park alone if there were more crosswalks along the route,” Tobin said.

Pine Hills resident Ann Sipher walks her dog three times a day in the neighborhood and believes there is a lack of crosswalks.

Ann Sipher walks her dog three times a day in the neighborhood.

“Drivers think they are more important than the pedestrians,” said Sipher.

She said she is extremely cautious at intersections and checks right, left, the light, and for cars behind her.

While some residents are displeased with the crosswalk status, the city has a process in place for more crosswalks to be added.

“The procedure is that a request has to be made and then reviewed by Traffic Engineering. If we find that the requested crossing can be granted, we then schedule the work,” said Smith.

“If the work is done by the city or the city contractor, the cost is approximately $4 per feet,” he added. That price includes the material and the labor necessary to install the material.

Last summer, the city of Albany added crosswalks along South Main Avenue, but did not add signals across parts of South Main itself at the intersections of Park Avenue and South Main. Another place where crosswalk signals were not added is at the intersection of Partridge and Morris streets.

Tobin said one place that needs a crosswalk and signal is at the intersection of Ridgefield Street and Park. She said she “could not believe” there is not a crosswalk there. Many Pine Hills residents cross the intersection to enter Ridgefield Park.

Even though the speed limit in the neighborhood is 30 mph, cars drive faster than that on a daily basis. While the addition of crosswalks would not stop drivers from driving recklessly, some residents would welcome safer pedestrian conditions. -30-